The Guardian: Awakening

Story by Renszvaras Wolf on SoFurry

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#2 of The Guardian


Awakening

In the valley of mountains set the little village of Slyvangard, named after the valor warrior general that served and died in the war that took place in the Forest of Guard. Surrounded by trees of ash, pine, oak, and by a river with a bridge that settled between the town of Slyvangard and those who lived on the other side of the river. In the middle of the village was a structure of a wooden church attached to a watchtower with a brass bell in a cross formation. Next to the church was the guards barracks, its black stone walls gave its presence away to all those within the town. It housed the guards of Slyvangard, a total of fifty soldiers of the mixture of canines and foxes. Some of them were mercenaries, those who left for decent pay, while the rest were those who were dispatched by the King's army. His hand reach all the lands of Translavkania, and the king believe to protect his people, after all it was the people who selected him as king after the long war many years ago. As the sun started to rise early risers woke up from their beds, got dressed, and went to their daily tasks. On the far side of the river was a little cottage that belonged to two villagers of Slyvangard. Raising from his bed the young white wolf stretched and looked out his window. The rain had gone and was replaced with a beautiful sunrise that stretched over the horizon. Thinking of what the day might bring he got up walking towards the window only to place his paws upon its frame and sighed at the sight. The young wolf stared at it for a while then turned away towards the clothing he placed out the previous day before out in the open upon the dresser waiting for him. As he started to get dressed his adoptive father who he considered not but a father in full called out from the other side of the door before he entered. "You awake in there Fang?"

As Fang pulled his pants about his waist he replied. "Yeah I'm awake father."

Silver chuckled as he strolled in Fangs' room. "Good. I'll be needing your help today over at the saloon."

Standing beside his dresser, Fang pulled out a few short sleeve tunics before selecting one within his right paw as he put the other choices back to their original spot. "Let me guess, Star is going to be there right?"

"Yeah she'll be as she always is, why you ask?"

"Oh you know why you great fart. Never the less I thought she took the day off to go see someone." Sighed Fang.

Silver smirked and sat down upon his adoptive son's bed watching Fang pulled over his favorite green tunic. "You know that will just make her go crazy."

"I don't care, I told her a million times I'm not interested at all. Besides there's someone else."

"Like who?" Silver asked.

"None of your business you old buffoon." Chuckled Fang as he grabbed his leather bracelet upon his right forearm. The ordainments of bones rattled freely with each movement as Fang turned about facing his father staring at him. "Ready?"

Rising from his position he faced Fang as he clasped him in an embrace. "You know I'll find out sometime or later Fang. It's just only a matter of time. Before we go there's something you need to take a look at in the mirror."

"What now?" Groaned Fang.

"Look in the mirror Fang and tell me what you see." Silver said as he stood beside him releasing Fang from the embrace. Fang looked and saw himself and Silvers' reflection; two wolves stood side-by-side together looking at the mirror. A five foot eight white wolf wearing a green tunic, and black baggy pants stood next to a six foot silver wolf, wearing a white tunic and the same black baggy pants as himself.

"What am I to look for Silver?" asked Fang

"You must be kidding me! How could you forget Fang?"

Fang turned from the mirror and faced his father trying not to rise his tone of his impatience. "Father."

Laughing out loud Silver said. "Well that's a shame. How could a handsome white wolf, with hazel eyes like yourself forget today is your eighteenth birthday."

Fang smiled. "Let's go." The two walked out of the room from their cottage as they headed for the bridge. As they crossed over they waved as they greeted their fellow neighbors, friends, and weary travelers before they entered the saloon called Silver Fangs that was located within the center of the town not far from the church building.

The saloon was like any saloon, tables scattered about for the guests, a bar station up against the wall, and a small stage in the back of the saloon. Always full with drunks, visitors, villagers from Slyvangard, cutthroats, and weary travelers that stopped here for a drink or two. And once in a while a fight will break out between the drunks and the cutthroats as usual. Fang stood by the entrance of the saloon watching for any arguments that would break out into a fight sometime or later. Silver made his way over to the bar taking his place as Star nodded her cranium at his presence before taking up a platter full of beverages to serve to their guests. While Silver was at the bar station serving out drinks, talking with the customers, and always keeping an eye out for trouble like Fang he couldn't but help as his son kept watching the young waitress serving three tables down and caught his eye. She was the same age as Fang, light grey fur that sparked when the sun hit it, and her eyes were golden brown. Wearing a burgundy skirt and a white blouse she strolled up to Fang as she laid the last beverage to the guest to their right. Great here she comes. The question is will she get it through that thick skull of hers'? Rising his head as she approached him, Fang addressed her. "Can I help you Star?"

Star looked over at Fang, his muscular form hidden underneath his white pelt. He looked fierce as any other fae mentioned about his appearance, but to her she like the pleasure of a real brute, least in her case within the sheets. His tunic made him stand out all the more. She always find it funny how many other canines within the town never cared for their appearance, yet Fang was always looking decent compared to those she flirted with. Smiling she replied with a hint of lust within her voice as she took her right paw, stroking his chest. "My my, you look handsome today."

"And as always my answer is no." Fang sighed as he reached for her forearm, removing her touch from his chest. Still looking past her he asked a question as he watched a group next to the stage. "I though you took the day off today to have some quality time to yourself or did I misheard when you ask my father yesterday before we closed last night?"

Rolling her eyes at his bold statement she replied. "He was a no show, seems I didn't catch his interest. Yet I could still get the day off perhaps if you and I take a walk to the woods. I'm sure Silver wouldn't mind at all, and if I'm not mistaken you love the woods. Fresh air would do us some good, just the two of us what you say handsome?"

Still watching the group he noticed how the body language on one of the brute to the right was getting hostile to those across him. Making the discussion short he got to the point. "I'm not interested at all, and I for one will not sleep with you for your pleasure no matter how many times you fantasize of what I look like bare naked as a natural wolf without a single stich of clothing upon me. And I can give you three reasons why to boot as well."

Anger flashed across her features as Star strangled not to snap the tray within her paws from his remark. Not to be outdone, Star placed the tray aside upon the table to her left as her paws rested upon her hips before she spat out the words with hatred. "All right let's hear it then."

"One, you may be beautiful and all that but you don't have any interest from me. Two, no matter what my answer is still no and besides you only want me for your pleasure just like the rest of those poor wolves you seduced. And three, there's someone else thank you very much." Fang said flatly.

"Why you..." she didn't get much further for Fang brushed past her to break up the upcoming fight next to the stage.

As he neared the table with all the commotion, the brute he watched earlier rose from his chair as he took a glass smashing against the table making it a deadly weapon within his left paw as he yelled at those before him. "What makes you better than me eh? Tell me, face to face. Right here, right now!" The brute hiccupped as he swayed back and forth as he continued. "Just because you think our father will give the land to you two lazy asses instead of me, you think you're better than me?! Is that it eh! Well I can fix that right here and now, there be only one son tonight!"

Grasping the brute's left forearm Fang applied pressure with his left paw making him drop the weapon on the floor. Still not taking any chances he swung his right forearm around the brute's neck applying some pressure forcing the brute to his knees before he collapsed upon the floor, unconscious. Looking at the two brothers who suddenly rose from their chairs as well Fang addressed them in a calmly manner. "I suggest you two leave, as for your brother here I'll take him over to the guards barracks for a one night stay to sleep it off."

One of the brothers looked over at their fallen brethren on the floor before addressing to the other. "You know he did intend to take our lives, I say we settle the score eh brother?"

Chuckling mischievously the elder brother smiled at the thought. "Indeed. Could even say he threaten us as he did and we defend ourselves accordingly as this brave lad save our lives. What you say lad? Stand aside as we take our brother outside ourselves and take care of him in a proper fashion. We'll even pay for your silence, surely you wouldn't refuse some coin eh?"

Fang watched the elder brother reach for his coin purse as the other went to retrieve their fallen brethren upon the floor. Grabbing the brute's scruff Fang reeled him back as he redirected his forehead to the table, snapping it in half by the force. The elder brother stood in shock as Fang approached him. "I believe I can escort the three of you personally to the barracks tonight, as well informing the guards themselves of your misdeeds you planned as well. How's that sound to ya eh?" Without waiting Fang punched the elder brother on the maw before he fell to the ground. Unlike the other two, the elder brother was made of sterner stuff who been in scrap of fights many times compared his two younger siblings. The canine rose from the ground, grasping his lower jaw before picking up the chair from the table they were sitting earlier, swinging it down upon Fang's head breaking it in the process.

Recoiling from the impact Fang shook his head as the next attack came, three punches to his ribs before the lower hook came up smacking him under his muzzle. The blows he received were nothing compared to the other fights he had to break up, or in this case partake within the bar. Rising his head as a small trickle of blood drizzled down his left check, Fang grab the glass that was still on the floor as the elder brother reached for his dagger upon his waist. Before the elder canine could strike, Silver came up behind and struck him from behind forcing the brute to the floor upon his knees before he felt the presence of cold steel touching the nape of his neck. "I suggest you come quietly and peacefully or I can make sure you won't see the sun rise again. What's your decision? Choose quickly or I'll chose for you and its obvious what my choice will be."

Soon as the bar became quiet as the fight rang out, the doors bust open as ten guards came in with weapons drawn. A black fox came forward, garbed in leather armor with blades strapped about his form. Coming next to Silver he address him as he held his twin dagger blades at the brute. "I see there's more trouble again in the saloon as always, eh Silver?"

Lowering his sword, Silver addressed the fox as his troops gathered around the scene, removing the dagger from the brute in front of Silver. "When isn't there trouble in my saloon Gale? Fang here sense it and broke up the fight, yet this one kept on persisting for more."

Gale nodded his head as he asked Fang. "Indeed. Now report young lad."

Rising fully to his height like a solider, Fang gave Gale his report upon the situation. "I saw the one behind me get all hostile against these two here. Took care of the problem quickly by putting the brute to sleep in a choke hold and was going to take him to your barracks to sleep it off. He threaten his fellow brother's lives yet he didn't get the chance to act accordingly as I intervened. However these two had other plans of disposing their fallen brother as in means one less bloodline. They also offered to pay for my silence if I let them carry on. I refuse such an offer and defended not only myself but the brute as well. As you can see this is the result of the scrap before you came in."

Glaring at the elder brother who now was clasp in irons as Gale approached him. "Do ye deny such a claim upon thee? If you do I want you to think carefully, for there are witness about who I will speak unto to claim what they seen which will more likely prove of what occurred here. Or am I wrong mutt?"

Snarling at the fox the brute replied. "I deny nothing, only a fool would claim such. The only claim I state is that my brother behind that lad intended to take our lives. Had this fellow canine not intervene perhaps we would have been killed."

Looking back over at Fang, Gale asked. "This true Fang?"

Taking a damp cloth from Star, Fang nodded his head in thanks before replying. "I did mention that, but I did intervene. However to be honest I doubt the fool would have even made it across the table with these two armed with daggers. I find it funny how I watched from afar how they sat there all in a calmly manner as he rises in anger threatening their lives. To me that looks like they were staging this or had plans of him attacking, drunk as he may have been but they could have slipped one of their blades to his heart easily since they didn't partake any ale themselves."

Looking back at his men holding the prisoner Gale took a look of his appearance. Then taking a look at the other brother, still out cold from having his head smack upon the table he could also see they were indeed arm while the brute behind Fang wasn't. "A bold claim on that perspective, yet you could be right. Never the less take all three of these brothers to the barracks. Separate cells for all three of them, no need of any further accidents tonight. They'll be trialed after the ceremony of our host here. As for the rest of you I suggest it's time to leave. It's now dusk and we all have our parts to play tomorrow." Bowing low to Fang, Gale smiled. "May you pass the Wolfhood Trials Fang." Without further ado Gale turned about as his fellow brethren took the three brothers away to await their fate in the hands of the Council of Slyvangard.

As the guests cleared out of the saloon, Star cleared up the mess as Silver looked over Fang's wounds. "Typical lad, you're always looking out for trouble. One of these days I won't be there to watch your back son."

Brushing himself off from the fight Fang went to the door. "You can attend my wounds later, as well this discussion. It's getting late we should lock up and all call it a night."

Still glaring at Fang, Star didn't hesitate as she slammed the tray on the nearest table before leaving. Fang moved out of her way as she left as Silver came up from behind clasping his right shoulder. "You really like to cause trouble don't you?"

Shaking his head as he walked out with Silver following he responded while watching Star head home. "I don't intend to cause trouble at all. It usually finds me if not someone else. As for her, I may have been blunt but I state the facts if not the truth."

Silver chuckled as he locked their saloon. As soon as the sound of the lock approached his ears, Silver turned about wrapping his arm around Fang. "Come on let's head back home and check that head of yours."

"I'm fine, seriously." Fang persisted.

"Sure you are. You took a chair to your head in that fight and a couple of punches in the ribs remember?" Silver stated.

"Yeah I did but I still won now didn't I?"

Laughing out loud he slapped Fang on the back, sending him to topple over and landed face first in the dirt. "You won? I helped remember. Then again knowing you, you would have stuck him like a pig with that shard of glass."

Picking himself up from the ground, Fang turned around and glared at Silver for a moment. Both broke out laughing, finally controlling themselves Silver dug in his pocket and tossed an item to Fang. "Here a token of my thanks, and a present as well."

"You shouldn't have." Fang said astonished.

The token as Silver called it was a necklace made of two pieces of leather lacing intertwining over postal twine. One knotted end of the necklace had a loop that was meant to loop over the other end with the two pieces of silver disks about the size of a small pebble. Tied in knots in a couple of places to strengthen it, set in the middle of two knots was the prized possession of the necklace. Made of a piece of falling star that Silver had in his earlier years, he had it shaped it into a silver fang of the wolf with the aid of the blacksmith. "You like it? I figured it would match your bracelet on your right forearm I gave you last season." Silver asked.

As for an answer Fang grasped Silvers' paw, pulled him close and hugged him. "Thank you father." Fang said.

Chuckling Silver said. "I'll take that as a yes then. Come on time for bed, after I check your injuries first."

"All right."